The exclusion of Eddie Johnson, while triggering a powerful backlash of reaction, removed one of many players from the USA national team
pool who has played more than one position for head coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

Only Klinsmann, and perhaps Johnson, knows precisely why this choice was made, but along with a
prickly attitude there were questions about Johnson’s technical and tactical limitations clashing with the coach’s philosophies.Still, as he showed six weeks ago in a friendly against
Mexico, his scoring drought for D.C. United hadn’t impaired his ability to pierce defenses; in that game, he timed his run nicely to control a through pass and smack his shot into the net, but
an offside flag on a very close play annulled his strike.

Without Johnson as a candidate for the wide midfield and forward spots, Klinsmann’s selection of 27 field players is listed by
U.S. Soccer as 11 defenders, 10 midfielders, and six forwards. Using those selections as a base, and for now accepting the coach’s decree that Landon Donovan is a forward, we have chosen
15 field players as definite locks for Brazil along with the three keepers who will all be going: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan and Nick Rimando. They are
listed by position and in alphabetical order, followed by the remaining candidates in order of their probable selection.

Tim Chandler’s inclusion might put Michael Parkhurst’s "lock" status in jeopardy, but though he’s been playing in the middle for Columbus,
Parkhurst is best suited to provide cover for the USA at both outside back positions. Yet it’s also possible Klinsmann has Chandler in mind as a starter at right back; a string of good
performances for Nuremberg in the Bundesliga has pushed him into the forefront.

The return of Chandler and presence of Parkhurst could lessen the chances that Geoff Cameron
plays right back, as he does for Stoke City, and therefore is the No. 3 centerback behind Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler. It’s possible Klinsmann would want
another option, and though Clarence Goodson has played some solid games for the USA, such as the 1-0 snow-encrusted defeat of Costa Rica last year, the coach has obviously seen
something in John Brooks that he likes.

Brad Evans can also give cover at both outside-back positions, and was the starter at right back for Klinsmann
throughout much of the Hexagonal. He recently returned from injury and has been at left back for Seattle, and though he’s versatile enough to play in midfield the USA has many options in that
part of the field. DeAndre Yedlin’s great speed and attacking prowess could earn him consideration as a secret weapon of sorts, but as he showed during a 5-0 New England rout on
Sunday, his positional naivety is an extreme risk at the international level.

A strong camp for Chandler could force Klinsmann to choose between Goodson and Brooks, or perhaps forego both of
them to take another midfielder or forward. There are interesting options at both positions.

It seems unlikely that Donovan, regardless
of where he plays, will start every game, and so Bedoya is a prime candidate to man one of the outside midfield slots with Fabian Johnson -- listed as a defender by U.S. Soccer -- the
probable first-choice on the other side. Graham Zusi can also play both wide slots and like many players under Klinsmann, has increased his defensive contributions while also
providing attacking impetuts. The coach has experimented enough with personnel and formations to utilize players in many ways.

The wild-card on the 30-man roster is Julian
Green, but the intriguing battle could be for the central spots. If Beckerman is first backup for Jermaine Jones or Michael Bradley, is it redundant to take
Mr. Dreads as well as Maurice Edu, whose greater physical attributes give him a Jones-like presence? Beckerman has given Klinsmann such good service that it’s hard to imagine
him not going to Brazil, but Edu has World Cup experience that Beckerman lacks.

Mix Diskerud is an attacking catalyst who could be valuable off the bench, yet in the past year
his workrate, range and defensive influence have improved significantly. He’s also got the Euro-background – he plays in Norway for Rosenborg -- that the coach, despite softening a stance
regarding foreign leagues vs. MLS, values highly. Since Klinsmann has rarely used Cameron in central midfield, the coach needs other options. Brad Davis is one of the true left-footed
players in the pool, now that Brek Shea -- once an automatic pick for Klinsmann -- has dropped out of the picture.

Taking Green to Brazil would be a brazen ploy by the coach,
but the Bayern Munich teenager has been recruited for a reason. He’s not nearly as experienced as Davis or Joe Corona, or anybody else in the 30-man squad for that matter, and
so would take a spot from someone who’s slogged through the tough times of qualifying or the Gold Cup. If he goes to the World Cup at the expense of, say, Chris Wondolowski or a
centerback, the players have to be convinced the decision is a correct one.

FORWARDS;

Locks: Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Aron Johannsson.

Candidates: 1. Chris Wondolowski. 2. Terence Boyd.

Terrence Boyd’s late-season scoring flurry has returned him to the status as backup big guy to Altidore, one
of the preparation camp’s restoration projects. Jozy Altidore’s struggles for Sunderland will be forgotten if he can regain his form and sharpness, though his performances
against tough opposition at the 2009 Confederations Cup and 2010 World Cup ranged from pretty good to mediocre. He’s a year removed from a spectacular season for AZ that prompted the move to
England, and needs to regain that level at least.

As go Clint Dempsey and Bradley, so goes the USA. Dempsey’s scintillating form for Seattle contrasts sharply with
Donovan’s lackluster showings and simply put, if Deuce is being blasted every time he gets the ball, others must step up. Klinsmann’s decisions about who plays with Dempsey must be
spot-on. Aron Johannsson is not the bruiser Altidore is and so would present opponents an entirely different set of skills, those of quickness and guile and close control under
pressure. Pairing Dempsey with Donovan would deprive the USA of a true target yet present opponents myriad situations of interchanging players and combination play.

Boyd can be the backup for
Altidore, should Klinsmann decide one is necessary. Or the coach might opt for Wondolowski, whose deserved reputation as a goal poacher is buttressed by a great sense of timing and angles, as well as
unrelenting workrate and unquenchable team spirit.

Agree with most everything on here. I wouldn't consider Parkhurst a "lock", especially if Chandler comes into the camp and tears it up. Where do you play Cameron? If not at right back, do you really sit a player who just played a full season in the most competitive league of any player on the US national team? Personally, I'd rather have Cameron at center back than Gonzalez. In the midfield, I think you have to take Diskerud in case they need to score a goal. He brings creativity to the field that the team lacks otherwise. Up front, I'd take Wondo over Boyd. Altidore and Boyd play a similar style. If Klinsmann brings Altidore off the field during a game, it will be because he wants a different look up front and Boyd would be more of the same. Boyd is still young and will be in his prime at the next WC. This is it for Wondo.

Walt Pericciuoli

commented on: May 14, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

8 defenders,some who can play multiple positions.Besler,Beasley,Chandler,GonzalezGoodson,Cameron,and Brooks
8 midfielders Bradley,Jones,Zusi,Diskerud,Beckerman,
Green,Bedoya,Johnson (who can also play back)
5 forwards, Dempsey,Boyd,Johannsson,Altidore and Donovan(who can play MF)

Kent James

commented on: May 14, 2014 at 3:52 p.m.

Fingers, I agree with you, Boyd is a swap for Altidore. I think the reason JK would take Boyd is if Altidore is not looking good in camp. Wondo provides a much different look. As for defenders, he should only take Goodson or Brooks, not both. We already have 3 big central defenders (Gonzalez, Besler & Cameron, if needed); I think Chandler and Evans provide versatility, while Yedlin offers speed (which I think we lack). I hope Yedlin's "positional naivete" can be corrected quickly! Or more likely, maybe Yedlin can be brought in late in a game if we are behind, sacrificing defensive security for his offensive potential.

Daniel Clifton

commented on: May 14, 2014 at 9:58 p.m.

I think Klinsmann has to take a long look at both Chandler and Yedlin at right back. The US is going to be facing some serious speed against Portugal and Ghana on that side of the field. A right back with speed may be a necessity. I don't agree with Parkhurst being a lock. I think Goodson is more of a lock than Parkhurst. I think Diskerud is close to a lock. I believe Zusi starts over Bedoya, although I wouldn't be surprised to see Bedoya start at least one game. Does he stick with Demarcus Beasley at left back. I think Fabian Johnson is decisive as a left midfielder. It was F. Johnson and Zusi setting up Altidore last year over and over.

Chris Sapien

commented on: May 15, 2014 at 2:54 p.m.

I almost fell to the floor when I saw Parkhurst as a lock! I think he was the unsung hero at the GC last summer, but after seeing him as a "lock", the article lost a lot of credibility. Then Chandler is listed as the highest probable Candidate over Goodson (only CB here who has been to the WC) and Evans who basically saved our Ass most of the Hex. (see Jamaica, June '13) Yes he had a couple of questionalbe games wearing the shirt lately, but come on, I will take Cameron, Evans or Fabian going up against CR7 before Chandler, who has yet to impress as a Nat. Lastly, having a target forward has usually made us a lumbering side unable to put enough pressure on backlines. I would much rather team someone with Donovan up top, so they can interchange their runs and turn defenders around facing their goal time and again. Just my thoughts.